Picnic set



HAMMER May 17, 1949. A, w JENK|NS 2,470,492

PICNIC SET Filed Jan. 30, 1946 my. z

ggf-1g 4 Hwy/[bmw Patented May 17, 1949 EXAMl UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PICNIC SET Albert W. Jenkins, New York, N. Y.

Application January 30, 1946, Serial No. 644,327

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in combination implements and tools, and more specifically, to a new and improved picnic set or set of eating utensils which is particularly well adapted for the use by members of the Armed Forces, for tourists, .boy scouts, travelers and the like.

The main object of vthe present invention is the provision of :a device of the character described which unites four (or more) implements into a compact set in such a manner that said implements easily can be detached from one another and that they-after use-can be re-united by a simple manipulation so that they require only a minimum of space and that no pieces can be lost.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character described which leaves each individual implement free from any protruding parts or connection members, so that each implement can be used in the usual manner, and which does not require a separate container for the set of implements.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character described which, although it consists of only four pieces, is actually a combination of a spoon, a fork, a table knife,v a can-opener, Va. cork screw, and a bottle cap opener, thus uniting six implements to but four and, in addi-tion, constituting also a very practical and space saving holder adapted for holding the implements together when they lare not in use and substituting a container for the same.

Yet still another object of the present invention is the provision of a, device of the character described which is light in weight, primarily dat, simple in construction, and inexpensive to manufacture, and which has no movable parts that might be subject to any appreciable wear and tear, but which is also sturdy and well adapted .to withstand the rough usage to which devices ci this kind are frequently subjected.

Further objects of the instant invention reside in any novel feature of construction or operation or novel combination of parts present in the embodiment of the invention described and shown in the accompanying drawing whether Within or without the scope of the appended claims and irrespective of other specific statements as to the scope of the invention contained herein.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred em- Ibodiment of my invention as it appears when the implements are not in use;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows plan views of the four implements 4as they appear when they are separated from each other and when they are ready for use; and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing (Figs. 1 and 2) the numeral I denotes a first member. which in the present instance is a can-and-bottle cap opening tool that has a flat U-shaped handle 4. The upper edges of the parallel flanges 2 are inwardlycurled, so as to form a U-shaped channel, and there are notches I provided in said inwardlycurled edges. The blade portion which extends from the handle 4 is provided with a fulcrumshaped recess 5 adapted for engaging the crown cap of a bottle in a well known manner; and its extremity is bifurcated, having a curved cutting portion B and a partially inwardly Ibent portion l, both of which can be used for the opening of cans in :a well known manner.

The second member in the present instance is a table knife having a flat handle 9 from which extends a blade I0. The handle 9 is provided with a notch 8 adapted to engage the inwardly bent portion I of the can-opening tool when the blade I0 is inserted into the U-shaped channel formed by handle 4. I prefer to provide the knife handle 9 also with a longitudinal recess II and with a cork screw Ina which is pivoted to handle 8 at I2 adjacent the recess Il.

The third member in the instance shown is a fork I1 from which extends a flat handle Il that is provided at one side with a knob I5 and that is adapted -for being inserted into the U- shaped handle 4 above the knife blade I0.

The fourth member` in the present instance is a spoon I8 having a i'iat handle I4 which is provided with an aperture Il and with knobs I9. Handle Ai4 is adapted to be inserted into the U-shaped handle 4 between the inwardly curled edges of the flanges 2 and the fork handle I3; thereby the knob Il engaging the aperture I8, and the knobs I8 engaging the notches 3.

Since the curved bowl of the spoon I8 extends over the fork I'I, the pointed prongs of the fork II are covered entirely, so that the device can be carried in a pocket or the like without any possibility of injuring the person carrying the device. If the implements are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the tip of the bowl of spoon I8 rests against and presses upon the rear end of the knife handle 9, and since the longitudinal implements (knife, fork and spoon) are somewhat resilient, the knobs I9 are safely heldin the notches 3, so that the implements cannot disengage themselves from one another inadvertently. In order to disengage the implements from one another, it is necessary to press upon the spoon handle I4, so that the knobs I9 leave the notches 3, and then the spoon and the fork can be pulled out of the U-shaped handle 4, whereupon the knife handle 9 is lifted up so that its notch 8 can be disengaged from the inwardly bent portion 1.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modication, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in itsoperation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States is:

1. The herein-described implement comprising one member having a can-and-bottle-cap-opening tool at one end and having a U-shaped handle portion whose upper longitudinal ange edges are inwardly-curled, a second at member having on its handle portion a notch which engages an inwardly bent portion of said can-opening tool when said second member is slid into the U- shaped handle portion of said rst member, a third member having a fiat handle portion which has a knob at one side and which is adapted to be slid into the U-shaped handle portion of said rst member above said second member, and a fourth member having a curved main portion and Cil a flat handle portion which is provided with knobs on one side and with an aperture adapted for engaging the knob on said third member when the handle of said fourth member is inserted between the third member and the inwardly curled edges of the U-shaped handle portion of said rst member, said inwardly curled edges being provided with recesses adapted to engage the knobs on one side of the handle portion of said fourth member, all substantially as described.

2. The herein-described implement comprising a can-and-bottle-cap-opening tool having a U- shaped handle portion whose upper longitudinal flange edges are inwardly-curled, a knife having on its handle portion a notch which engages an inwardly bent portion of said can-opening tool when the blade of said knife is slid into the U- shaped handle portion of said can-opening tool, a fork having a at handle portion which has a knob at one side and which is adapted to be slid into the U-shaped handle portion of said canopening tool above said knife, and a spoon having a at handle portion which is provided with knobs on one side and with an aperture adapted to engage the knob on said fork when the handle of said spoon is inserted between said fork and the inwardly curled edges of the U-shaped handle portion of said can-opening tool, said inwardly curled edges being provided with recesses adapted to engage knobs which are on one side of the handle portion of said spoon, all substantially as described.

ALBERT W. JENKINS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Bardie Jan. 7, 1862 Number 

